CHRISTINE ANN JOHNSON
Christine Ann Johnson, 62, of Hailey, ID passed away March 2 after heart surgery. Chris was an incredible woman; although born with a congenital heart condition she never complained that it was unfair—she lived life to the fullest she could. She was incredibly kind and was a joy to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her; she made lifelong friends wherever she went.
Chris grew up in the Stockton area and was a 1978 graduate of Tokay High School. As a 4H member she raised sheep and goats as well as any “stray” cat or dog that came within reach.
After receiving a BS degree in International Development from UC Davis she worked as a television journalist in Idaho Falls, ID; St. Joseph, MO; Las Vegas, NV; and ended up as a producer for CNN in its early days. After receiving a MA in English at the University of Georgia, in 1996 she changed careers to teach high school and college English in the Sacramento area. In 2003 Chris became a software trainer for Marketron in Hailey; she retired from there in 2020.
In 2007 she met Jim Bartolino and they married in 2010.
Chris loved animals and usually had several; when she and Jim blended their households she loved on five cats and three dogs. Chris and Jim fostered (and adopted) dogs for Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue and she volunteered for the Hunger Coalition.
She is survived by her husband, Jim Bartolino; father, Alan Johnson; brothers and sisters: Steve Johnson, Jenny Potier, Linda Gidre, Tom Johnson, and their spouses; cousin, Bill Pollock and his wife; 12 nieces and nephews; a great-nephew and -niece; and her and Jim’s three Chesapeake Bay Retrievers: Winnie, Toby, and Jake.
There will be a reception to celebrate Chris’s life this summer; please contact Jim for details. In lieu of flowers please send a donation in Chris’s name to either Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue (https://cbrrescue.org) or the [Wood River Valley] Hunger Coalition (https://thehungercoalition.org).
She has left a huge hole in all of our lives and we’ll deeply miss her.
Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.